Walgreen clinics expand care into chronic illness

Walgreen Co. has stretched the reach of its drugstore clinics beyond treating ankle sprains and sinus infections to handling chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.

The company, based in Deerfield, Ill., said Thursday that most of its roughly 370 in-store Take Care Clinics now will diagnose, treat and monitor patients with some chronic conditions that are typically handled by doctors.

Drugstore clinics, which are run by nurse practitioners or physician assistants, have grown popular in recent years as a convenient and less expensive way to treat relatively minor illnesses when a patient doesn't have a doctor or if their physician isn't available. But the clinics have been broadening their scope of care: Walgreen's decision follows a move by competitor CVS Caremark Corp. a few years ago to start monitoring chronic conditions at most of its 640 MinuteClinics.

Drugstores say they don't aim to replace doctors, but rather to provide more people with access to health care and to work with physicians as part of a team treating patients. But the move to provide more complex care draws concern from doctors who say that can disrupt their relationships with patients and lead to fragmented care.

Dr. Jeffrey J. Cain, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, one of the nation's largest medical organizations, compares the clinics to fast-food restaurants. He said they're good for the occasional meal but not something a person wants to rely on for too much of their diet.

Physicians know their patients, and that makes them better suited for doing things like helping someone with diabetes develop an exercise plan, stick with their treatment or learn how to eat better, Cain said. And different computer systems can make transferring records between clinics and health care providers a problem, leading to test duplications and gaps in a doctor's knowledge of a patient's care, he said.

"It's not about telling somebody what they have to do, it's helping them make choices in their life to move toward a healthier lifestyle," he said.

Walgreen said its expansion into chronic care is based on need. Cases of diseases such as diabetes are growing and the U.S. population is aging.

In addition, the health care overhaul will increase coverage to millions of uninsured people next year. That coverage expansion will arrive as the country struggles with a doctor shortage, Walgreen noted. In fact, some studies have predicted a shortfall of roughly 40,000 primary care doctors over the next several years.

He said nearly half of the patients who receive treatment at Walgreen clinics don't have a primary care doctor or have trouble finding one who accepts the government-funded Medicare or Medicaid coverage.

"We're filling a niche for patients who need access," London said. "When we uncover gaps in care and we're capable of closing those gaps, it's the right thing to do."

He added that the clinics also can play a big role for patients with doctors. If a patient already has a treatment plan for a condition such as high cholesterol, he or she can use the clinics for blood tests and then have the results sent back to the doctor.

The clinics also can help monitor blood sugar or blood pressure levels when the regular doctor's office is closed or the patient can't get there.

In cases where patients don't have a primary care doctor, care providers at the clinics will diagnose a chronic illness, get the patient started on medication, educate them about their treatment and then help them connect with a doctor.

Convenient care clinics started in 2000, and there are now more than 1,400 in the United States, according to the trade group Convenient Care Association. That growth is expected to continue.

CVS Caremark says it will have nearly 800 clinics by the end of this year, and it aims to operate about 1,500 clinics nationwide by 2017.

Walgreen had 51 clinics in 2007 and runs 372 now. A spokesman said the company expects "double digit percentage growth" in the number of clinics this fiscal year, which ends in August. He declined to be more specific.

Aside from drugstores, patients also can find clinics in grocery stores, malls and some Wal-Mart and Target stores. Proponents say they can be more convenient than a doctor's office because they are open on weekends and for longer hours.

They also are a less-expensive option than a doctor's office, urgent care center or emergency room, which is important for people with no insurance or coverage that makes them pay more upfront for care.

The clinics initially handled mostly minor medical conditions and immunizations but have expanded over the years to add things like school and camp physicals to their menu of services.

A few years ago, CVS Caremark started offering lab tests and education for people who generally have already been diagnosed by a doctor with a chronic condition. Earlier this year, its clinics expanded into acne consultations, with the company advertising that service on its website under the slogan, "We treat it so you can beat it."

CEO Larry Merlo also told analysts in February his company is testing clinic programs that help customers quit smoking or manage their weight.

Rite Aid Corp., the nation's third-largest drugstore chain, doesn't offer chronic illness care at its small chain of clinics. But the company said last month it would start offering 10-minute online doctor consultations for $45 to store customers in several big cities.